 TRIBAL
CHILDREN LOST IN FORESTRY
How
do we write without slate and pencil?
How
do we learn without a teacher?
How
do we read without book?
How
do we write without chalk and blackboard?
Who will bring light into our life?
The
lines composed in Mundari language by the community in Ranchi district
summarises the pathetic status of education in the region.
Arki
block in Ranchi district is a very remote and inaccessible hilly region. The
villages are totally scattered and isolated. They are completely cut off
from other part of the block. Hardly one could find any road here. There is
neither electricity nor any forms of communication. There are only degraded
forest and uneven land surfaces.
There
is no iota of development in the region with broken structures and broken
communication facilities. In the official sector this region is seen as a
punishment area. Though the tribal leader Birsa Munda belonged to this
region, the official and non-official sectors have abused and misused his
name for popularity but have done nothing to change the pathetic condition
of the region.
The
majority of the population belongs to Mundari tribes. Most of them are not
familiar with Hindi and verbal communication is feasible only if equipped
with Mundari language.
Children’s
education is yet to catch up here. In this region the existence of state and
its provision of education to all is questionable, as much norms are
non-existent. Education for Munda children has been a distant dream.
The
establishment of education centers by AID in this remote, scattered region
has been a boon to the community. 925 children are attending the education
centers of AID. Further more the wide gap in communication due to
appointment of non tribal teachers with no communication skills in Mundari
landuage has been over come by appointing the village volunteers from among
the same community.
Only now is the Mundari community
slowly catching on to the importance of education for their children. The
Mundari community norms have a weekly meeting with all the members of the
community in which all matters related to the village are discussed.
Previously education was never an agenda in these community meetings. Now
education forms part of the important agenda of the village. They have now
started to realize the non-functioning of government schools and the absence
of teacher and just now much their children are missing through having no
education. Now they are taking all initiatives to revive the existing
schools with the support of volunteers and the organization.
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